Eating Disorders

Facts 

  • Out of every four college women, one has an eating disorder. 

  • A study in 1995 found that three minutes spent looking at a fashion magazine caused 70% of women to feel depressed, guilty and shameful. 

  • Models 20 years ago weighed 8% less than the average woman. Today, they weigh 23% less.  

  • If Barbie were a real woman, she'd have to walk on all fours due to her proportions.  

  • There are 3 million women who don't look like supermodels and only 8 who do.  

  • The average woman weighs 144 pounds and wears between a 12-14.  

  • Marilyn Monroe wore a size 14.  

 

Reasons 

People develop eating disorders for various reasons. Some common reasons are:  

  • a poor self image, including low self-esteem, a negative body image and cultural attitudes  

  • a difficulty with emotions such as depression, anxiety, despair and anger, or fear of sexual development 

  • a need for control in order to make up for feelings of helplessness, to get attention or rebel against parental control 

  • a stressful personal life, including situations such as death of a loved one, divorce or a breakup of a relationship, or school or work stress 

  • a need to overachieve, mainly perfectionists who may be overly concerned with grades, neatness, being a star athlete or the "perfect" son or daughter 

 

Symptoms 

Whatever the reason, there are some common symptoms to look out for. Watch out for symptoms such as: 

  • a lack of control over food  

  • obsessing about what is eaten  

  • eating alone or in secret  

  • hiding, stealing, or throwing out food  

  • isolating oneself  

  • denying the problem  

 

Three Main Types of Eating Disorders: 

Anorexia Nervosa 

A person may: 

  • become very thin  

  • have dull hair, dry skin and brittle nails  

  • develop fine hair on arms, legs and torso  

  • always feel cold or tired  

  • exercise vigorously at odd hours  

  • have unusual eating rituals  

  • wear baggy clothes to hide the body  

  • stop menstruating  

Bulimia Nervosa 

A person may: 

  • gain and lose weight often  

  • not have a change in body weight in spite of eating a lot  

  • misuse laxatives or diuretics  

  • make excuses to use the bathroom after meals  

  • have tooth decay from contact with stomach acid during vomiting  

  • have cuts and scrapes on the backs of hands from self-induced vomiting  

  • have irregular menstrual periods  

Binge Eating Disorder 

A person may: 

  • gain weight rapidly  

  • not gain any weight instead in spite of overeating, especially if young or active  

  • not stop eating when full  

  • act guilty or disgusted with him- or herself after a binge  

 

For more information on eating disorders: visit the Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc. website, the National Eating Disorders Association website, or the Overeaters Anonymous website. 

 

 

*Information taken from "Eating Disorders - They can be Treated," Channing L. Bete Co., Inc. 1999.Various pamphlets on this topic and others are available at the Health Center.